Crews will make way for the restaurant by tearing down the Sleep Doctor mattress store on the site, on Tittabawassee across the road from Pier 1 Imports.

The commission approved a site plan request from GHA Architecture/Development of Dallas, Texas, on behalf of RARE Hospitality International Inc. of Orlando, Fla., to demolish an existing building and construct a 6,170-square-foot new full-service LongHorn Steakhouse at 2525 Tittabawassee.

Jack Degagne, site development planner for Darden Restaurants, attended the meeting as a representative for LongHorn Steakhouse. Degagne said Saginaw Township is a beautiful location, and he is excited that plans are moving along.

“We’re looking forward to developing our restaurant there,” he said.

Bridget Smith, Saginaw Township assistant director of community development, said the addition of a LongHorn Steakhouse reinforces the Bay and Tittabawassee roads area as a dining and entertainment district. She said she expects work to start this construction season.

“Anytime there’s an additional dining option—especially a sit-down option—in the township, it’s a benefit,” she said.

The Saginaw Township Planning Commission also approved a site plan from Wolgast Design Group of Freeland on behalf of Draper Auto Group of Saginaw to build an 8,404-square-foot addition for automotive service and related site improvements at the existing Draper Toyota, 4320 Bay Road.